frith



Patented Feb. 28, I899. A. J. FRITH.

BUCKET UUNVEYER.

('Appliciition med Dec. 21, 1896.

4 Sheets$heot I.

(No Model.)

Patented Feb. 28, I899.

A. J. F RITH.

v BUBKET GDNVEYER.

(Application filed Dec. 21, 1896.)

(No Model.)

l ll l Il I I Arm/my No. 620,298; Patented Feb; 28, I899. A. J. FBITH.BUCKET CUNVEYER.

(Application filed Dec. 21, 1896.)

4 Shats-Sheet a.

(No Model.)

ATTORNEY.

No. 620,298. Patented Feb. 28, I899.

\ J. FRITH.

BUCKET CDNVEYER.

(Applicltion filed Dec, 21, 1896.) (No Madel.) 4 Sho man-Sheet 4.

WITNESSES 9' INVENTO/i' .v Z W/QV ljliwq M ATTORNEX.

- embodying myinvention.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J. FRITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BUCKET CONVEYER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 620,298, dated February28, 1899. Application filed December 21, 1896. Serial No. 616,440. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. FRITH, of the city of New York, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bucket Conveyors, which-invention is fully set forth andillustrated in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to provide a bucket conveyer which maybe loaded with material from a hopper or chute without the interventionof a loading device and without the interposition of shields or otherdevices between the buckets.

The invention will first be described in detail and then set forth inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows in sectional side elevationa gravity bucket conveyer embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows insectional side elevation, upon an enlarged scale, a portion of theconveyer shown in Fig. 1, illustrating different positions assumed bythe gravity-buckets. Fig. 3 is a View in plan of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is aview in plan of aportion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, illustratingdetails of construction hereinafi ter described. Figs. 5, 6, and 7illustrate a portion of a modified form of conveyer also Figs. 8, 9,and12 illustrate portions of another" form of 1 conveyer embodying myinvention, Fig. 12 being a view in -plan of Fig. 9. Figs. 10 and 11illustrate two forms of gravity-buckets which may be used inthe-conveyer. Fig. 13 illus trates a detail of construction hereinafterdescribed. Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate in side elevation and plan,respectively, another form of chain which may be employed in theconveyer. Fig. 16 illustrates a brush or scraper which may be secured toa hopper or chute, as hereinafter described. Fig. 17 shows in sideelevation another modification of my invention. Fig. 18 is a verticalsection taken through Fig. 17 at the line A A. Fig. 19 illustrates aportion of achain 42 employed in Fig. 17. Figs. 20 and 21 are verticalsections taken through Fig. 19 at the lines B B and G C, respectively.Fig. 22 is a view in plan of a portion of the conveyer-chain 36 shown inFig. 17. Fig. 23 illustrates in perspective, upon an enlarged scale, thedriving mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the conveyer being omitted.

In said figures the several parts are re= spectively indicated byreference numbers and letters, as follows:

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the endless conveyer iscomposed of two parallel wire ropes 1, between which are suspended, bymeans of shafts or pivots 2 and suitable clamps or stops 3, a series ofgravity-buckets 4. Each alternate shaft 2 passes through the center of abucket, and all of said shafts are provided with wheels 5, which runupon upper and lower tracks 6 7, carried in the framework of theconveyer, suitable curved guiderails 6 7 being provided at the cornersof the conveyer. The buckets 4 when in normal position are not incontact with each other, but are spaced apart. Each bucket has securedto its front and-rear ends a casting a, Fig. 10, provided with a grooveb, for the purpose hereinafter described. Instead of these two smallcastings a larger casting 0', provided at each end witha groove 1), maybe secured to the bucket, as shown in Fig. 11. Suitably mounted in theframework of the conveyer is a shaft 8, carrying at each end asprocket-wheel 9. Said shaft may be oper- "ated by a steam-engine orfrom any other suitable source of power, and the sprocket-wheels 9 drivethe conveyer by engaging with the axles 2. Mounted in the framework ofthe conveyor also is a shaft 10, Figs. 1 and 4, carrying a pair of bandsprocket-wheels 11, each of practically the same diameter as thedriving-sprocket 9. Said shaft also carries a chain-wheel 12 and arevolving circular guide 13, Figs. 4 and 13, the latter being secured tothe shaft by a key, set-screw, or any other suitable means. A horizontalguide-bar 14 is also loosely hung from said shaft, as shown in Fig. 13.A shaft 15, mounted in the framework of the conveyer, carries a pair ofsprocket-wheels 16 (of greater diameter than the wheels 9 11) and achain-Wheel 17. An endless chain 18 connects the chain-wheels 12 and 17.A guide or projection 19 is located in proximity to the wheels 11 and inthe path of travel of the empty buckets for the purpose of guiding saidbuckets, as hereinafter described. I

One or more hoppers or chutes 20 may be located at any suitable point orpoints above the lower track 7, upon which the conveyer travels, so thatthe material to be conveyed may be delivered from any source or sourcesof supply through said hoppers or chutes into the buckets as they travelbeneath the hoppers. If desired, a brush or scraper 21 may be located infront of one or more of the hoppers 20 and pivoted thereto, as shown inFig. 16, for the purpose of leveling the material in the buckets, ashereinafter described.

Any suitable overturning mechanism may be located at the point 22 orelsewhere in the buckets line of travel, so as to effect the unloadingof the buckets.

The operation of the conveyer, constructed as above described, is asfollows: Assuming that motion be imparted to the driving sprocket-wheel9, so as to cause it to move in the direction of the arrow, the emptybuckets, spaced apart, will, as they pass from the 'ver; tical to thehorizontal, be forced toward each other, as shown in Fig. 1, inconsequence of the fact that all the slack in the conveyer is throwninto its lower line of travel. As said buckets ascend vertically theywill come in contact with the guide or projection 19 and will be throwninto such a position that when forced toward each other the groove 19 onthe forward end of one bucket can engage the shaft or axle 2, thesimilar groove on the rear end of the preceding bucket also engagingsaid shaft. As the buckets continue to approach each other said grooveswill engage said shafts and the buckets will be locked together, forminga continuous conveyer,with no spaces between the buckets. While in ithis position the buckets are loaded with material from the hoppers orchutes 20, located above the buckets, the material passing from thehoppers directly into the buckets Without the intervention of a loadingmechanism. As the buckets continue to travel they pass, loaded, frombeneath the hoppers or chutes, ascend-the vertical path of the conveyer,and pass upon the upper tracks 6. The buckets, as they pass from thelower tracks 7 to the vertical path of the conveyer,will be releasedfrom pressure and will be spaced apart with the conveyer under tensionthroughout the line of the conveyer until they again pass to the lowerlevel for reloading after having been unloaded by contact with theoverturning mechanism 22. The brush or scraper 21 in front of the hopperor chutes will serve to level the material in the buckets and to removeaud sweep into the buckets any material which may lodge upon the shafts2 while the buckets are in contact with said shafts.

If it be desired to load the buckets at another and lower level than thedriving-wheel 9, the mechanism above described located at the lowerleft-hand corner of Fig. 1 may be employed. Vith this arrangement theempty bucket as it descends the vertical path of the conveyer will comein contact with the guide or projection 19, and the bucket will bethrown into such a position that the groove 1) on its forward end willengage the axle 2 as the travel is continued, said axle being alsoengaged by the groove on the rear end of the preceding bucket.

In order to prevent the front end of a bucket from tilting up and toinsure the engagement of the groove 1) with the axle 2, the guide 13 14is provided. The front end of the bucket enters under the circular guide13 and then passes under the horizontal guide 14, Figs. 4 and 13, saidbucket being thus guided in its proper path of travel. The sprocket 16is driven from the conveyer and transmits the tension of the conveyer tothe sprocket 11, thus allowing slack to occur in the chain between thetwo sprocket-wheels 11 16. As said sprocket-wheels 11 16 revolve theirsprocketteeth engage the axles or shafts 2 and the buckets 4 will beforced toward each other and locked in a continuous series, the grooves19 engaging. the shafts 2, as above described. While in this positionthe buckets may be loaded with material from a hopper or chute 20. Theythen pass loaded from the horizontal track 7, assume their normalcondition, spaced apart, and ascend the vertical path of the conveyer.

It is evident that the mechanism just described may be located at anyother point in the conveyers line of travel at which it may be desiredto load, or may be entirely omitted if it be desired to load only onthe'ordinary lower tracks 7.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 a modification of my invention is shown, in whichthe conveyer instead of being constructed with a wire rope isconstructed with an endless chain composed of a series of flat parallellinks 23, Figs. 5 and 6, between which the buckets 4 are suspended bythe axles or shafts 2. Said shafts pass through elongated holes or slots23 in the ends of said links. For driving this form of conveyer I preferto employ the mechanism shown, which is a modification of the Whitworthquick-ret u rn motion, the parts of which are shown detached in Fig. 7and assembled in Figs. 6 and 23. A pair of plates 24 are fixed upon ashaft 25 and are provided with a series of projecting pins 26. Mountedupon the shaft 25 also and fixed to some part of the framework is aneccentric 27, surrounded by a grooved ring 28, driven from the plates 24by a pin passing through a slot 24. Pivoted to the ring 28 are a seriesof arms 29, provided with slots 30, engaging the pins 26 in the plates24. If motion be imparted to the driving-shaft 25 by a steam-engine orother motor, the revolution of said shaft through the plates 24 and arms29 will drive the conveyer, said arms engaging the axles or shafts 2. Itwill be evident that as the pins revolve around the shaft-center and thepitch-circle of the arms revolves around the eccentric-center thevelocity of the arms 29 at the pitch-circle will vary as their pinsapproach or recede from the eccentric-center, and as the unloadedbuckets descend the vertical path of the conveyer and pass upon thelower horizontal tracks 7 the relative pitch distance of the arms 29lessens gradually to allow the links 23 to slip in their grooves 23 andpass from a condition of tension to that offcOmpression, at the sametime closing up the space between the buckets and bringing their groovedlips in contact with the shafts 2, forming a continuous series ofbuckets. The buckets are then loaded, as above described for Fig. 1, andwhen the loaded buckets pass to the vertical path of the conveyer thelinks 23 will be released from pressure and the conveyer will resume itsnormal condition of tension with buckets spaced apart.

In Figs. 8 and 9 my invention is shown applied to a conveyer havinganother form of endless chain. This chain 31 is composed of a series ofshort links forked at one end, as shown in Fig. 8, and provided withprojections 0. A driving sprocket-wheel 32 is secured to a shaft 33, theteeth of said sprocketwheel engaging the axles or shafts 2 of theconveyer. If the shaft 33 be rotated by a steam-engine or other motor,the sprocketwheel 32 will drive the conveyer by engaging the shafts 2,and the empty buckets as they descend the vertical path of travel of theconveyer will come in contact with a guide 34 and will be thrown intosuch a position that the grooves 19 on the buckets will engage theshafts 2, as above described in referring to the preceding figures. Thebuckets are also guided and prevented from buckling by the circularguide 13 and horizontal guide 14, (shown in Fig. 13 and hereinbeforedescribed,)

said circular guide being secured to the shaft 33, as clearly shown inplan in Fig. 12. As the buckets continue to travel and pass upon thelower tracks 7 they will be brought toward each other and in contactwith the shafts 2 by reason of the bending of the chain between theshafts until the stops 0 engage each other. A continuous series ofbuckets will thus be formed upon the. lower tracks 7 and the buckets arethere loaded, as above described. When the loaded buckets pass from saidtracks and ascend the vertical path of travel of the conveyer, the links,of the chain 31 will be straightened and the conveyer will resume itsnormal condition with buckets spaced apart.

In Figs. '14 and 15 is shown another form of chain which may be employedin the conveyer. This chain is constructed with a series of long links35, composed of two flat parallel plates, and with alternate shortersolid links 35. The operation of the conveyer when this chain isemployed is substantially the same as above described for'Fig. 1, thepositions assumed by the links 35 35 when the buckets have been forcedtoward each other being indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 14.

Figs. 17 to 22, incl usive,show another modi fied form of conveyerembodying my invention, the arrangement therein shown being adapted tobe substituted for that shown at the lower left-hand corner of Fig. 1.The conveyer-chain which I preferably employwith this arrangement iscomposed of links.

formed by parallel flat plates 36, having hubs 37 on their pivots, asshown in Figs. 18 and 22. The device now to be described may be locatedat any point in the vconveyers line of travel at which it may be desiredto load the buckets, a portion of the track at the point selected beingdepressed and curved,as shown in Fig. 17, the shape of this curvedepending upon its location in the conveyer. A pair of bandsprocket-wheels 38 39 are mounted, respectively, upon shafts 40 41, andpassing around said sprocket-wheels is an endless loading-chain 42,composed of links made up of flat parallel plates. To each link,betweenits plates, is secured a tooth 43, each provided on its inner end with alug 44, registering with the grooves of the sprocket-wheels 38 39.

The operation of the conveyer constructed as above described is asfollows: If motion be imparted to the conveyer by driving mechanism, soas to drive it in either direction, the chain 36 as it enters upon thecurve at one end will be engaged by the teeth 43 on the endless chain42, some of said teeth entering the links of the chain 36 between itsparallel plates and the others engaging and spanning the hubs 37 of saidchain. The pitch of the teeth 43 of the chain 42 when passing around thesprocket band-wheels 38 39 corresponds to the links of the chain 36 whenextended; but when the chain 42 passes from its curved to its straightpath ofv travel the pitch distance lessens to that of the chain 42,corresponding to the bucket-spacing when brought in contact, and henceas the conveyer continues to travel the buckets will become loaded incontinuous "series and propelled in this condition until they press fromthe other end of the depressed curve. While the buckets are in contactwith the shafts 2, they-are loaded, as above described.

It will be observed 'thatin the forms of conveyer shown in Figs. 1 and14 the buckets push each other on the lower levels, while in the formsshown in Figs. 6 and 9 the pressure passes through the chain itself. Inthe form shown in Fig. 17 neither the buckets nor the chain push, butthe pull of the chain 36 passesfrom the conveyer through theloading-chain 42, and the buckets while in contact are each propelledatthe proper dis tance. The wheels 38 39, Fig. 17, instead of being madesprocket-wheels may be made IIO mere band-wheels, in which case theprojections 44 on the teeth 43 would be omitted. The distance betweensaid wheels may also be increased, if desired. For example, the wheel 38may be located at one lower corner of a conveyer and the'wheel 39 at theother lower corner and'connected by the chain 42,

in which case the special form of depressed curved track would beunnecessary.

The driving mechanism shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 23 may be employed in anyof the forms of conveyer herein described, or in any other form ofconveyer in which the use of such a driving mechanism would bedesirable. Thus, for example, said driving mechanism may, if desired, beemployed to drive the conveyer shown in Figs. 17 to 22 and may be usedin addition to the mechanism shown in said figures. Should these twomechanisms be used in one conveyer, they would be located at differentpoints in the conveyers line of travel, and the spaces between thebuckets would be thereby closed at each of these points. The buckets ofthe conveyer could thus be loaded at two different points in the samemanner as the conveyer shown in Fig. 1.

It is obvious that while the grooves 19 (shown on the buckets 4 in Figs.2, 9, 10, and 11) are not necessary in all the forms of conveyer shown,they may, if desired, be used in other conveyers than those shown insaid figures. For example, they may be employed in the conveyer shown inFigs. 17 to 22, if deemed advisable.

. By the method herein described of operating endless conveyers allshields or other devices between the buckets maybe dispensed with, andthe material to be conveyed may be delivered from a hopper or chutedirectly into a continuous series of buckets at the loading point orpoints without the intervention of loading mechanism.

It is evident that in this form of conveyer the speed of theconveyer-chain when extended is greater than when the buckets are closetogether. The point of variation will naturally be at the drivingmechanism, and it is advantageous that this change of speed should bemade without shock. This object is accomplished in Figs. 1 and 9 byselecting. such diameter of sprocket-wheel that the; chord distance ofthe conveyer between the 1 axles when passing over the sprocketis nearlyidentical with the shaft distance of the conveyer when the buckets arein contact. By this means the speed of the conveyer is continuouslyvaried without violence. In Fig. 6 the same object is attained by havingthe pitch distance of the driving-arms slowly decrease, allowingmovement in the link-slots to take place gradually, as described.

I do not confine myself to the precise constructions shown, as it isevident that they may be varied to accomplish the desired object withoutdeparting from my invention.

I do not herein claim, per se, the special form of driving mechanismshown in Figs. 6, 7, and 23, the same being claimed in an applicationfilled by me on the 10th day of August, 1897, bearing Serial No.647,770.

Having thus fully described my invention, Iclaim 1. In a conveyer, thecombination with a series of gravity-buckets, spaced apart, of

means for causing said buckets to approach each other a predetermineddistance while passing the loading-point, and prevent escape of materialduring the time required to effect the loading of a bucket.

2. In a conveyer, the combination of a conveyer-chain; gravity-bucketssuspended from said chain and spaced apart; a hopper or chute locatedabove the lower horizontal path of travel of the conveyer; and means forcausing said buckets to approach each other apredetermined distancewhile passing beneath said hopper or chute, and prevent escape ofmaterial during the time required to eifect the loading of a bucket.

3. A bucket conveyer provided with aseries of non-telescopicgravity-buckets, and means whereby the portion of said series at theloading-point may be rendered practically continuous to prevent escapeof material during the time required to effect the loading of a bucket,the remainder of the series being spaced apart.

4. In a conveyer, the combination of endless flexible connections;gravity buckets suspended between said connections by supportingshafts;track-wheels upon said shafts; track-rails for said Wheels; and meansfor causing said connections to yield a predetermined distance at theloading-point of the conveyer, and close the spaces between the bucketsduring the time required to effect the loading of a bucket; wherebyescape of material between the buckets is prevented during the loadingoperation.

5. In a conveyer, the combination of end less flexible connections;gravitybuckets, supportingshafts for said buckets; intermediate shaftsbetween the buckets; trackwheels upon said shafts; track-rails for saidwheels; a hopper or chute; and means for causing said buckets toapproach each other a predetermined distance and engage saidintermediate shafts, while passing beneath said hopper, during the timerequired to effect the loading; whereby escape of material between thebuckets is prevented during the loading operation.

6. In a bucket conveyer, the combination of an endless conveyer-chain;buckets suspended from said chain; chain-wheels; supporting-shafts forsaid wheels; and a bucketspacing chain passing around said chainwheelsand provided with teeth for engaging said conveyer-chain,and bringingthe buckets toward each other.

7. In a bucket conveyer, the combination of an endless conveyer-chain;buckets suspended from said chain; a track provided with a curveddepressed portion; chain-wheels mounted upon shafts above said depressedtrack; and a loading-chain passing around said chain-wheels, andprovided with teeth for engaging said conveyer-chain.

8. In a bucket conveyer, the combination of an endless conveyer-chain,composed of flat links provided with hubs on their pivots;

buckets suspended from said chain; chainwheels; supporting-shafts forsaid wheels; and a bucket-spacing chain passing around saidchain-wheels, and provided with teeth for engaging said conveyer-chainand bringing the buckets toward each other.

9. In a bucket conveyer, the combination of endless flexibleconnections, a series of buckets suspended between said connections, andeach provided with a groove, as b, at each end, and means adapted to beengaged by said grooves, for the purposes set forth.

10. In a bucket conveyer, the combination of a series of buckets;supporting axles or shafts for said buckets; endless flexibleconnections; and a series of shafts between said buckets; each bucketbeing provided with a grooved lip or projection at each end for engagingsaid intermediate shafts.

11. In a bucket conveyer, the combination of a series of travelingbuckets; a horizontal supporting-shaft located adjacent to theloading-point; and a revolving circular guide socured to said shaft andadapted to engage the buckets, for the purposes set forth.

12. In a bucket conveyer, the combination of a series of travelingbuckets; a horizontal supporting-shaft,located adjacent to the loading-point; a revolving circular guide secured to said shaft; and ahorizontal guide loosely hung from said shaft; for the purposes setforth.

13. In a bucket conveyer, the combination of a series of buckets, eachprovided with a mediate shafts between said buckets, for engaging thegrooves thereon; and a guide or projection located in the vertical pathof travel of the emptybuckets, for the purposes set forth.

14. In a bucket conveyer, the combination of a series of travelingbuckets; a guide or projection located in the path of travel of theempty buckets; a horizontal shaft adjacent to the loading-point; and arevolving circular guide secured to said shaft, for the purposes setforth.

15. In a bucket conveyor, the combination of a series of travelingbuckets; a guide or projection located in the vertical path of travel ofthe empty buckets; a horizontal shaft adjacent to the loading-point; acircular guide secured to said shaft; and a horizontal guide looselyhung from said shaft.

16. In a bucket conveyor, the combination of a series of buckets, eachprovided with a grooved lip or projection at each end; a series ofintermediate shafts between said buckets; a guide or projection locatedin the vertical path of travel of the empty buckets; a shaft adjacent tothe loading-point; a circular guide secured to said shaft; and ahorizontal guide loosely hung from said shaft.

ARTHUR J. FRITH.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS P. REILLY, GEO. M. CURTIS, Jr.

